Episode 021 – Amy Trask

“You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League” By Amy Trask with Mike Freeman

Amy Trask

This week’s guest is Amy Trask, the former CEO of the Raiders, author, CBS football analyst, and current chair of the board for the Big3. She was the first female executive of any NFL team. Her book, You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League, details Amy’s experiences as the first female executive in the league. Amy is a prolific tweeter, engaging fans and sports professionals alike on a daily basis about the industry. She speaks with Bobbi-Sue about her time at the Raiders, the Big3, and ice cream, among many other topics.

Rating and reviewing the podcast not only helps us get heard by more people but also makes Bobbi-Sue feel good. This week, Bobbi-Sue is giving away one copy of Amy Trask’s book. To enter: 1) Rate and review LTPF; 2) Take a screen shot; and 3) Email the screenshot to LTPFPod@gmail.com by 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 . One winner will be chosen from all timely received entries.

Make sure you subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, and RadioInfluence.com.

Additional Show Notes:

The women start off their conversation talking about ice cream for breakfast, as is standard for Amy.

Someone stole Bobbi-Sue’s “You Negotiate Like a Girl” book!

Amy talks about the process of writing her book with Mike Freeman.

The decision of where to go to school was easy for Amy, she chose Cal Berkeley and studied political science.

Her parents were extremely supportive and only cared that their children got the best education possible.

How did Amy get her internship with the Oakland Raiders?

None of the moves that Amy made were calculated. She just did her thing and stayed true to herself.

Amy fell in love with football when she was in junior high. It’s almost like live chess.

Her family members were really just casual fans of the game. When Amy got a job with the Raiders, they became season ticket holders and went to every game.”

Firm life was not a long life for Amy. She was only there for about a year and a half. The most valuable piece was the education on contracts and how to draft them.

When she rejoined the Raiders organization, she did whatever they needed. She was handling a lot of contracts but not player contracts. She explains why not.

One of the things that Bobbi-Sue and Amy agree on is that people who want to be successful in sport (or any business really) should learn everything they can.

Al Davis was the first NFL owner to hire the first Hispanic head coach and first female executive.

Mike Silver wrote an article for Sports Illustrated in which someone else in the league referred to Amy as the “Princess of Darkness” and not in a complementary manner.

Where did “Wowee” come from?

Amy Trask’s other verbal habit is one that can sometimes make her CBS Sports Network colleagues a tad nervous because of live TV.

There was an instance when Amy was asked to get coffee by another NFL team owner… her response is classic.

Amy’s friendship with Ice Cube started because he is a giant fan of the Raiders and how it lead to her being part of the Big3, the new 3-on-3 basketball league.

The Big3 will be aired live on Fox and FS1 on Friday nights.

One of the biggest differentiators of the Big3 from all other leagues is the accessibility that fans have to the coaches and players. Amy tells a story about Charles Oakley.

What is an “inchie pinchy”?

Bobbi-Sue and Amy both love when players interact with kiddos and how important access can be at events like training camp.

There’s been a call for expansion in the Big3. Some news may be forthcoming on that for the 3rd season.

Doing things in the Big3 is much different than working in the NFL, Amy talks about how fun that it.

Amy is very passionate about animal rescue! She cannot divulge how many she has at home because of a deal with her husband.

Self-care: Ice cream

Quotable moments:

“It felt like I was going to propose marriage to someone…” – Regarding asking Mike Freeman to help her with the book

“I locked myself in the bedroom and wrote 74,000 words.”

“I never, ever, ever intended to be a lawyer.”

“To thine own self, be true” – Best advice Amy ever received from her mom (and Shakespeare)

“If I had been told that my responsibility was to pick up Gatorade cups on the side of the field… well then I would have been honored and thrilled for that to be my job.”

“It’s a very, very cerebral game…. there’s a very, very cerebral component to football.”

“I was learning the business itself and doing everything I could to help the team, in any way I could.”

“Learn everything you can and contribute in any way you can.”

“He hired without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or any other individuality which has no bearing whatsoever on whether someone can do a job.”

“I think it’s a great nickname. Raider Nation thinks it’s a great nickname. I love it. I cherish it. I will always cherish it. And, frankly, I hope that when I say it to you or anyone else, that people are a little scared.”

“It didn’t take me but a second to think ‘I’m gonna have some fun with this.'”

“It took me the entire season before I stopped saying ‘kick off’ and started saying ‘tip-off,’ so I feel you.”

“Adopt don’t shop and let’s just get these dogs and cats loving homes.”